Andhra Pradesh - Eluru   

Survey triggers protests in West Godavari

Staff Reporter

ELURU: The survey carried out by the Azim Premji Foundation on standards of elementary education in Government schools triggered a storm of protests in West Godavari district. Various teachers’ organisations which met here a couple of days ago, gave a joint call to teachers not to allow the foundation executives into Government schools as they were allegedly acting as touts for convent education.

According to information, the foundation personnel conducted a test for 1st and 2nd standard students studying in Government schools in the district in April last as part of the survey and offered a financial assistance of Rs 2,200 for each merit student up to 5th standard if he or she was willing to join the nearby private school.

Shaik Sabji, general secretary of the district unit of the United Teachers Federation, said the foundation had spotted 317 merit students from various Government schools for ‘poaching’ in the guise of survey across the district.

He said the survey efforts would run counter to the Government’s enrolment drive in elementary schools under the ‘Badi Baata’ programme and ultimately lead to closure of several Government schools for want of students, Mr Sabji feared.

He said the UTF was planning an agitation against the activities of the Premji Foundation in the district.

The issue came to light when a mandal level officer from the Education Department caught the personnel of the foundation at Kaikaram village in Unguturu mandal while encouraging students of Government schools to opt for convent education by offering them financial assistance for payment of fee and purchase of textbooks and uniform.

The official promptly reported the matter to District Education Officer N.I. Raju, who summoned the foundation officials for clarification. The officials, however, reportedly argued that the foundation had entered a memorandum of understanding with the State Government for their activities. Meanwhile, the UTF leader said the MoU was meant for the study but not for their ‘poaching activities’.

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